Catamaran Mama

I decided to walk along the Mediterranean Sea I walked from Torremolinos beach to the next village Benalmádena Costa it was a long walk but i enjoyed it despite the heat it got to 90 during the walk but there was a breeze, I could look at the color of the sea forever it was amazing that day. A Catamaran was getting ready to leave so it was 10 euro so I hopped on board it was different just sitting on the front of the boat.  They has said we might see dolphins which would have been a bonus it was a nice trip minus the dolphins. I met a family from York and Scotland they sat with me we chatted and they took a pic of me so that was nice. One nice thing about solo travel because you meet people they always seem impressed I am on my own.

I also climbed up steps to get a better view of the sea I came across people who "carved" things out of the sand some very interesting things they usually had a little bucket out for a donation. So I always dropped some change in before I took a photo I do not mind giving money to someone who provides entertainment of some sort and also do not have a hand out demanding


I looked in shops and found a really nice top to wear over a bathing suit and it was marked down to 2 euro so I quickly snatched it up. I saw plenty of interesting little cafes and beach restaurants on the walk down but was not hungry. I started to get  hungry as it was around 4 and I had not eaten since breki,I started walking back to Torrey and could not find a place to eat either closed, Siesta time or not what I wanted finally settled  I finally settled for a steak and a huge baked potato and hot bread and a sangria for only for a 5.99 euro it was yummy.  I sat and enjoyed my meal and watched the "regulars" come in to order.

Afterwards I started the walk back it had been very warm but at one point there is a break in the route where you go around some rocks and it was a lot cooler on the other side and the rest of the walk back.

El footo hurto walko lotso Malaga Spain

I love the street signs

After brekie I got the train to Malaga it was an interesting city I needed a toilet at one point so saw a hotel and decided to walk in and find the toilet it was in the lobby where people were checking in and or out so used it and saw a computer and waited a few minutes till someone got off and quickly checked email and Facebook bad girl.

I found a church that was very beautiful I went inside and looked around I love their statues they are beautiful.

I came across some religious procession of some sort the women were dressed in their Sunday best and wearing long mantillas I took pictures of course and then there was 
a little group of men dressed in Spanish customs playing instruments and a cute little boy playing the drum,  I kept trying to get movies but people kept jumping in my way I was trying to be out of  other people way. At the end was this big cart with all sorts of silver decorations  led by a bull not sure now never got a good look I kept following the parade and trying to get better photos or video. 








































Then I walked through a Parque de Malaga (park)  and ran into a group of flamenco dancers I got a very short video before they stopped. I walked some more it was a pretty park Cricket spied a fountain and I had to keep him from jumping in and swimming and then headed off to find the The Alcazaba Moorish Fortress. I was not very successful and the directions were not clear. I finally asked a couple if they spoke English and he said we better we are American and they were from Omaha so they figured it out and decided to go along it was  interesting and high up. I walked and took photos with them for awhile and the guy wanted one of me as their friend from Buffalo then I took one of him and his wife. They also took one of me with my camera they decided to head off and said goodbye they I were going to climb up to the other part of the fortress I was going to too but continued to look around as we had only seen about one third and they missed the best part I got someone to take a photo of me in a different spot.  

I then spotted a place with ice cream and it was very good as it became really hot out at that point decided it was just to high to climb to the other place the Gibralfaro as I decided it was not worth being exhausted good call. I went through some gardens and looked for Picasso museum again very hard to find finally a shop keeper pointed me on my way I found it only to find it is closed for a week so missed out. I spotted a place with lamb kebab and I had to have it sat outside to enjoy the view and the went and took pictures at the Cathedral which is closed on Sunday very strange. I then decided to start back but just could not find the train station and I was near the hotel I had been in the am but no station nothing marked I asked a man at a news stand he pointed down the street 3 minutes walk well guess what did not see it so I kept walking and saw people with suitcases finally found some to direct me but I could not believe this was the same station I had been at well guess what it was not it was different station one stop closer to Torry it was the main station. My poor feet were about to explode and I was so mad I did not have my nuprin. I just found a shop where I bought some really cute sparkly tops for work can't wait to wear them.

Cricket at the fountain

Sitting on my balcony drinking some sherry eating some peanuts this is the life this is the view.

El bitcho shop keeper

       inutes a I was looking at a scarf fofor 

 For I saw a scraf and 

For a few minutes and decided to buy it I reached to get my money and the shopkeeper said it is only 2 euro buy it is cheap it is only 2 euros shaking her hand at me and I reached for my money and said I am getting my money and she started screaming at me grabbed it out of my hand and kept shooing me away and kept yelling keep you hands off shoo shoo get out get out loco. I went and got a nice scarf someplace else and then went back and showed her I spend money elsewhere she was loco don't know what was wrong with her. I barely touched the scarf so don't know what was wrong.

I found the travel place that I that was recommended so booked 3 tours Granada on Tuesday last seat available Cordoba on Thursday and Seville on Friday I am so excited I could not stop beaming and the best I was on this high when I ran into the loco shop keeper.

I then headed to "the Steps" which turned out to have shops and restaurants on the way down to the Sea. Very picturesque I walked along the Mediterranean sea for quite awhile got my feet and bottom of my carpi's wet people were swimming despite the cold water and very little sun if it is nice Monday I may go in just to do it. I had fish and chips for lunch cos I could not resist am exhausted and heading in my room has a really nice little veranda and I can sit out there the view of the Sierra De Mijas mountains is fabulous and the other side is Mediterranean sea who could ask for more.

First time stepping Med Sea

view from my room

Spain the Dream Come True

I had good flight out of Buffalo the flight from NYC tho was very bumpy at times the worst I have felt in a long time managed to sleep a good deal of the way waking up at times.

I arrived okay passport only had 2 men in little booths just like the passport control taking the Eurostar from London to Paris.  It was quite a walk to where the luggage was the signs they were in English Spanish and German not that I can read it but I can tell struck me how many words in the German language to say a short word or two. Though the next thing you know I am standing outside of where the luggage was and the sign said do not enter but I did any way and security standing there did not even pay attention. It wasn't till I was at the train that I realized no one asked me for my landing card and it was in my hand.

I found the train ok clearly marked and got a I n  clearly marked and got a ticket

I could see the hotel as soon as I came up the steps from the train station very close.  Torry looks very cute little town lots of shops near where I am waiting till noon to get my room have to admit I am exhausted walked around some to get the lay of the land spotted cod fish and chips heaven and also chocolate crepes and a lamb place all by the hotel Smiley face/happy me. views from my room these were taken from the balcony.

On my way home

Heading to the airport in a bit it has been a good trip saw and did so much England Scotland Wales and Belgium I am ready to go now and get on with life this saga of Steppin outta my shoes is ending for now. I am anxious to see my photos now and will be uploading and the like so it helps with the memories it was hard to leave my cousins again we live so far apart

I will be adding photos to my days on the road during the next few weeks its been a grand time.  Some photos from Manchestergrand time.  Some photos from Manchester

A visit to Alderbury and Wales

Review of my visit to Alderbury

I took the train to Shrewsbury and it was a nice ride and my cousins met me and they took me back to Alderbury we had a nice tea and just visited and later it was dinner and the wine was flowing freely as you can see.

My cousin Michael did not feel that well on Saturday so he stayed at the house and Margie and Deric and I went to Wales to visit House. It was really interesting we spent awhile going through the house and then through the gardens. We stopped back to see if Michael was feeling better; he was a bit but not to going out for dinner so we went out. I had fish and chips as a nice place and when we got home we made a stop at the village fete first time attending one of those. I bought a few books by one of my fave authors really cheap and had some Molly's punch which was quite good actually think I will pass out now thank you very much.

 

After that went in and watched some video of Margie's grand 

kids and talked. In the AM Michael was better so we just spent the day chatting and having a nice dinner and it was time to go back to Manchester before you knew it. I got there ok had a bit of trouble finding the place but finally did. After taking the lift up to my room I went out to explore a bit and to do some candy shopping and some more fish and chips how could I resist another shot a cod fish my fave. Went in and to sleep as the morn was soon approaching.